Shrek Academy's first lesson was very simple. They merely introduced themselves and got acquainted with one another.
Still, Fu Qin's strength shocked everyone present.
After all, reaching the Soul Elder level at his age made him an absolutely monstrous genius.
The "Three Schemers" of Shrek introduced themselves as well.
As a transmigrator, Fu Qin naturally knew all about them.
Their behavior, on the other hand, was a little...
(⊙o⊙)... hard to put into words.
Dai Mubai never took his eyes off Zhu Zhuqing.
Oscar's Sausage Martial Soul, paired with his sleazy manner, meant he was constantly going on about "I've got a Big Sausage." It made everyone's scalp crawl.
Ma Hongjun was even more blatant. His eyes kept wandering over the girls, and he never stopped cracking dirty jokes. Their thoroughly unlikable behavior actually struck Fu Qin as rather genuine.
As for their Martial Souls, ages, and Soul Power, they were almost exactly as Fu Qin remembered from his previous life.
Dai Mubai was sixteen, a Level 37 Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder; Oscar was fourteen, a Level 29 Auxiliary System Battle Soul Elder; and Ma Hongjun was thirteen, a Level 27 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master.
Fu Qin already knew all this. Hearing them introduce themselves was nothing more than confirmation.
What concerned him more was Zhao Wuji's condition.
Though Zhao Wuji looked disgruntled and his clothes were a little disheveled, he didn't have a single injury from a fight.
Fu Qin understood. In the original story, Tang San had been given a hard time by Zhao Wuji, then Tang Hao had come knocking in the dead of night and beaten Zhao Wuji black and blue. That sequence of events had ultimately changed because of Fu Qin's involvement.
"The butterfly effect really is terrifying. Still, this is for the best. It means less needless trouble."
He muttered to himself and kept walking toward Suotuo City.
Dean Flender had announced that the first lesson would be in the evening, and Fu Qin immediately guessed where they were headed.
The Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City.
That place was where the Shrek Seven Devils had first made their mark in the original story. Soul Fighting matches could help the team work together while earning points, which was very much Flender's style.
As for Oscar and Ning Rongrong being singled out to run laps, that was only to be expected. Auxiliary Soul Masters couldn't afford to be lacking in physical fitness.
What Fu Qin hadn't expected was that Ning Rongrong's temper was exactly the same as in the original story.
The Little Demoness of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really did live up to her name. She quit after only two laps and declared that she was going to Suotuo City for dessert. Seeing her spoiled behavior, Fu Qin couldn't help finding her a little cute.
Of course, he was never one to sit around doing nothing.
Shrek Academy was so run-down. How could he possibly stay there all the time?
"Sister Xiao Wu, you don't have to follow me."
Fu Qin turned to look at the girl's sparkling eyes, his voice softening.
Though he was only playing along, the favorability displayed on the System Panel was no fake.
╮(╯▽╰)╭
"Tang San is perceptive. If we spend too much time together, he might notice something."
The smile on Xiao Wu's face instantly fell. Disappointment filled her eyes as she clutched his sleeve tightly, her voice tinged with hurt.
"But I want to go with you."
Fu Qin's heart softened. He raised a hand to stroke her hair, his fingertips brushing her flushed earlobe.
"Be good, Sister Xiao Wu. Go back and cultivate properly. If you want, I'll come keep you company tonight."
At his words, Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed bright red.
She bit her lower lip as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only rose onto her toes and quickly pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
The touch was warm and fleeting. Before Fu Qin could savor it, Xiao Wu had already run off, face red.
"You have to come to my room tonight, okay?"
The streets of Suotuo City were far livelier than those around Shrek Academy.
Calls from street vendors and cheerful laughter rose and fell, while the air was filled with the aromas of all kinds of snacks.
Fu Qin followed the crowd to the food street. He had just bought a stick of Sugar-Fried Fruit and taken a bite—the outside was crisp, the inside tender, and the sweet-and-sour flavor just right—when a flustered yet playful voice came from behind him.
"Fu Qin? What are you doing here?"
Fu Qin turned and saw Ning Rongrong standing not far away. Her pink dress made her skin look like snow, and tiny beads of sweat dotted her forehead. She had clearly run out.
Her eyes shone. First came a flash of delight, then a hint of evasiveness. Her little hands twisted her skirt, betraying her guilt at sneaking out.
Fu Qin raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised, and held out the Sugar-Fried Fruit in his hand.
"We just finished up, so I thought I'd come take a look around. Didn't expect to run into you. What, did you sneak out for dessert?"
Ning Rongrong had been found out. Her cheeks turned faintly pink as she took the Sugar-Fried Fruit and bit into it. The sweetness eased her nerves a little, and she lifted her chin, feigning composure.
"I didn't sneak out. I just thought running was too boring. Disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect don't need to train in useless things like physical fitness."
Watching her stubborn act, Fu Qin couldn't help laughing. "Oh? Then why don't I show you around? I haven't tried many of Suotuo City's desserts. Want to join me for some?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she instantly forgot her earlier panic. She tugged on his sleeve and pulled him along.
"Really? You're so nice, big brother Fu Qin!"
Her fingertips were warm, soft with a girl's touch.
Fu Qin could clearly feel them. Unlike Xiao Wu's mature, perceptive charm, Ning Rongrong—who had yet to awaken her memories of her past life—was just like a little girl.
He let Ning Rongrong pull him through the crowd, her laughter ringing like silver bells.
Whenever they came across a stall that caught her interest, Ning Rongrong would stop and examine it closely, chattering away with questions. Her spoiled yet innocent manner made her seem like an entirely different person from the Little Demoness who had quit on the run back at the academy.
Fu Qin walked beside her, occasionally handing her a tissue to wipe the crumbs of dessert from the corner of her mouth.
When his fingertips accidentally brushed her cheek, Ning Rongrong flinched as if burned. Her face turned bright red, and she looked away, yet she didn't let go of his sleeve.
A subtle, intimate feeling began to spread between them.
Fu Qin knew that his Fate Arises and Fades buff was starting to take effect.
On top of that, with his looks that could charm men and women alike, Ning Rongrong's favorability was rising by the minute.
Unbeknownst to them,
Dean Flender was hidden in the shadows at the mouth of a nearby alley, his shrewd eyes taking it all in.
He stroked his beard and smiled meaningfully.
"That boy certainly has a way with women. But Ning Rongrong's bad temper needs to be fixed, too."
Fu Qin sensed a faint, prying gaze and instinctively looked toward the alley, but saw nothing.
He frowned, then dismissed the thought. Flender had probably followed Ning Rongrong out.
Given the dean's personality, he would naturally want to see what Ning Rongrong was up to—and observe Fu Qin while he was at it.